FLIGHT International, 18 January 1973 77
AIR TRANSPORT
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Earlybird fares filed
M ORE TALKS are expected between the British Civil Avia tion Authority and the US Civil Aeronautics Board some time in February, in an attempt to agree over
fares policy on the UK-USA sector of the North Atlantic,
following the breakdown of lata traffic conferences and
subsequent disagreement between the two authorities over
fares filed by British and American carriers. Advance-
purchase fares on scheduled flights, advocated by BOAC for
three years (and called "Earlybird" by the airline), have
been filed by BOAC and British Caledonian with the CAA,
CAB and Canadian Transport Commission. If approved the
fares would become effective on April 1.
With CAA support, and that of British Prime Minister
Edward Heath, who called for lower fares at the last lata
annual general meeting, the British carriers have thus set
the pace in cheap transatlantic fares. The BOAC fares
start at £59 return on London-Boston and London-Montreal
in the low season (October 15 to June 14, excluding the
Christmas period), but climb to £91 in the summer peak.
On the London-New York route, which both BOAC and
BCAL intend to fly, the fares range between £62 and £94.
These rates are little higher than the advance-booking
charter fares already proposed, but all apply only for
tickets bought in Britain. The American traveller is ex
pected to pay £78 return between New York and London
in the winter and up to £123 in the July peak on Earlybird.
Examples of the fares for American originations, which
are based on four traffic periods, including shoulders, are:
Boston-London £76 and Montreal-London £71 in winter.
Typical summer fares are £118 for both Boston-London and
Montreal-London flights. These rates are still lower than
advance-purchase fares already filed by TWA and Pan Am
of between £83 and £125, according to the season. These
The second A300B, which should fly shortly, has been painted in Iberia
colours on one side and in Air France colours on the other. The second
aircraft is a 8/ version like the first. Iberia has ordered the extended-
range B4, while Air France is buying the B2—basically the same as
the bl, but with a slightly lengthened fuselage
latter would apply both eastbound and westbound if
approved.
Controls on the individual advance-purchase fares are
a requirement to book three months in advance of the
flight, plus a minimum stay abroad of from ten to 14 days.
The fares compare with the £171 of an lata economy return
between London and New York and the £88 of a 22- to 45-
day excursion. The Laker Airways instant-purchase Sky-
train service between Stansted, London and New York—
approved by the CAA but at present held up because the
carrier has not been designated for the route—has single
fares of £32-50 in the low season and of £37-50 in the
high season. This service is also due to be started on
April 1 if designation is granted and subsequent CAB
hearings go in favour of the airline (see leading article).
ATLANTIC CHARTER TRAFFIC DROPS
DUBING 1972 the total number of passengers carried by
all operators—scheduled and charter—between North
America and Europe showed a major growth of 15-6 per
cent, from 11-29 million; in 1971 to 13-04 million in 1972
Non-Iata charter traffic, however, dropped, its market share
falling from 21-3 per ceiit in 1971 to 16-6 per cent last year.
An lata spokesman said' last week that the figures show
an increasing preference for the services offered by the
lata airlines, which carried 71 per cent of the total. A
large proportion of passengers have been taking advantage
of lower-cost promotional and special vacation fares. Of
the total market, the lata first-class traveller represented 4